Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-09-01

A. 1sseressisg Psgs Tsso Messsss's
Easly Aaes1s.
| Among the thrilling episodes Of early
Montana life, few surpass in intensity
Of interest the execution Of J. A.
Slade, the notorious despsrado. The
tragic scene IL once more brought to
the attention of the public through
the late appearance Of Hubert Howe
Bancroft's Popular Tribunals. ]. in
which the event 10 wildly portrayed,
and from which we CLEAN q synopsis
for our readers:
On the 9Th Of March. 1864, two
houses kept by womsn in Virginia
City, Montana, were entered at night
by Naylor Thompson, Harden. slade
and Others. who appropriated what
ever they could make available, malic
iously denolishing everything else.
The proprietor Of one Of the places,
called Moll FeatherIees, brought suit
before Judge Davis to recover dam
ages. Tne suit was prosecuted by the
best talent and jury Of twelve miners
formed, who feared not to act upon
the testimony. On the morning fol-
lowing these depredati0ns, Slade aud
his companions were unusually COM
bative, being frenzied with liquor, and
dsfied anyone to prosecute them.
Slade walked the streets with his CON-
rades, freely using the most abusive
Language to anyone with whom he
came in contact. An attempt was
made to arrest them, but, seizing the
warrants, they destroyed them, and
rOamed and rOared as usual until
other warrants could be obtained.
Threatening vengeance to the court.
Sl..de called at Judes Davis office,
flung at him insulting epithets, and
told him in the most insinuating way
that some mems days were numbered.
Then he walked away and entered .
certain house. lie had been there but
u short time when it was surrounded
by a company of 800 inen, members
Of the vigilance committee. They
were all armed and acted with pre-
concerted method, placing q guard
about the town, and fully preparing
for resistance. This was about 4
O'Clock in the afternoon; business gen.
orally was suspended, and though no
excitement was exhibited, the streets
were filled with people in hushed
state Of expectancy. Few knew who
was to be arrested. A strong force
then entered the building and took
Slade prisoner with but little resis-
tance. He was marched down the
street to a ravine, where, to his dis-
may, he saw u newly erected gallows
awaiting him. As death stared him in
tAs aa6e xh h. WA WAS ,n,e S9xsd ~ s'iHaSs
cation. lie nervously glanced about
him, only to behold the hills, streets
men and children, who, to witness his
execution, had thus come together.
The prisoner begged that he might see
his wife. This request WAS denied and
he was ordered to mount the scahold-
Ten minutes were gwen him in which
to prepare for death. lie asked per-
mission to speak with Judge Davis,
Lawyer Sanders and others. Judge
Davis responded, when the prisoner
begged most beseechingly that he
would entreat the people to believe la
his Innocence and, instead Of taking
his life, allow him to leave the eOtsrs-
try, and he would 90 anywhere they
directed. Judge Davis told him that
I've was powerless to help him. Again
he urged that he be allowed time to
zee his beloved wife before he died. 4
message had been sent to her an hour
previous, but of this fact the commit
nj
justed, and feeling confident that his
death was certain, his face turned
deadly pale, and his trembling Isgs
could hardly support him. His cries
for bis wife now became more velIe-
ment; he must see her, he said, to ar
range some business matters. Again,
as his arms were bound, he cried, ''For
God Al,niglIty's sake, let me see my
beloved WIFE The crowd became
greatly excited; the strongest emotion
see his wife" enanated from every
and u fight was only pre-.
vented by the sudden levelling Of three
hundred guns upon the turbulent mass
that now tossed like an angry sea. a
sulplue.l quiet quickly followed, broken
Ooy py tuc NOtiettstscNt opp~d'S VI ttsO
y 'isoner. which were now Unavaiing.
Ills imne,ii.te execution WAS deter
mined upon; tor if they relented and
allowed him extra time he might be
Rescued by his friends. With eyes un-
blintlel the trap was sprung, and the
man tell thirty inches, the toes just
touching the ground. After hanging
for half oi an hour the body was
taken down and conveyed to the Vir
ginia Hotel.
The crowd was slow to disperse; no
were utterei aloud except
by NavlOr Thompson, Shades late
in iniquity, whose threat
enIngs of vengeance were sileur.d by
the guard, who marched him to the
& illows. and he would have been exc
clte.l but for the remonstrance of by
ISLANDERS. ITe WAS liberated with the
u,,der>t anding that he should be ban
ished from the country.
Tire excitement consequent upon his
arrest had scarcely subsidized when
Mrs. Siate drove up to the hotel, and.
alishting. was conducted to the room
where lay her late husband II wa-
scarcely half an hour >irce he had
been q ri, d from the g;,llowS. and not
until Mrs. 81 tde entered ne apart